Job Description

Position Summary: Director of Engineering/Principal Engineer (Water, Civil)

Salary Range: $150k - $230k/year DOQ

Overview

Hoch Consulting’s Water Group is currently seeking a highly motivated and innovative Director of Engineering/Principal Engineer to lead multi-disciplinary teams in the successful acquisition and delivery of civil engineering projects in the water sector. The Director/Principal Engineer will support our robust footprint in Southern California, with key roles in multiple potable reuse projects, while expanding our footprint in other regions in California The Director/Principal Engineer may work in a hybrid remote fashion, from our existing San Diego (Oceanside) office, or from one of our other area offices. Key duties include (1) oversight of technical teams in the delivery of engineered drawings and specifications, technical reports, cost estimates, and schedules, (2) contract and personnel management, (3) provision of leadership, mentorship, and support to principals and senior staff, (4) assistance to executive management in a variety of administrative, coordinative, analytical, business, and liaison capacities, and (5) identification of business opportunities and oversight of the development and submittal of proposals and other bid deliverables. The successful candidate must be self-motivated and ambitious, possessing excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communications skills that will allow for the candidate to engage in a variety of projects and to collaborate with clients and project partners at all levels. Technical areas of expertise desired include water resources, hydraulics, pipeline and pumpstation design, engineering research, strategic planning, GIS analyses, alternatives analyses, condition assessment, and asset management. The successful candidate will have strong management, leadership, business development, project/program management, and technical engineering skills.

Learn about Leadership Opportunities with Hoch Consulting

Hoch Consulting is a small but growing full-service civil engineering firm. Over the last twelve years, we have served major roles in high-profile projects in the water sector in San Diego including Pure Water Oceanside (Program Manager), VID Flume Replacement Alignment Study (Core Team Member), RMWD Groundwater Recovery Feasibility Study (Prime Consultant), City of Oceanside’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure Program (Program Manager), and more. We are currently certified as a small local business enterprise (SLBE) with the City of San Diego (anticipated to continue through at least 2026), providing an opportunity to leverage the successful candidate’s experience into incentivized contract pursuits with the City. We are a certified small business enterprise (SBE) and registered on providing an opportunity to leverage the successful candidate’s experience and connections on Federal contracting pursuits. This opportunity includes profit sharing and the potential for stock options, allowing the successful candidate to maximize the fruits of their labor. As a small business with the resume of a much larger business and ambitious plans for growth, employment with Hoch provides a unique opportunity for the right candidate to fully realize their potential.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this position.

Business-Area Leadership Duties

• Provides day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high performance, client service-oriented work environment which supports achieving the company’s mission, strategic plan, objectives, and values.
• Participates in the development of and monitors performance against the company's annual revenue targets.
• Assists in the training of staff. Provides motivation and direction of department staff; assists with the establishment of performance requirements and personal development targets; evaluates and reviews work for acceptability and conformance with company standards, including program and project priorities and performance evaluations; regularly monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development; provides recommendations for compensation and other rewards to recognize performance; provides recommendations for disciplinary action, up to and including termination, to address performance deficiencies, in accordance with the company’s personnel rules, policies and labor contract provisions.
• Prepares, reviews, and presents reports, various management and information updates, project status reports, business correspondence and related written documentation to executive management.
• Within assigned areas of accountability, serves as the company’s representative to professional, industry and community groups and customers and to other agencies, organizations and individuals.
• Participates in recruiting activities, including but not limited to identification of ideal candidates, facilitating conversations, participating in interviews, and making recommendations for employment offers to meet departmental goals.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Business Development Duties

• Manages and directs business development opportunities. Implements and evaluates short and long-term growth plans, policies, systems, and procedures to achieve annual goals, objectives and work standards focused on achieving the company’s mission and assigned priorities.
• Prepares or oversees and coordinates the preparation of proposals and statements of qualifications; negotiates the scope of work with subconsultants or agreements with clients; oversees, coordinates and inspects the work of subconsultants engaged in water resources projects.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Project Related Duties

• Assists with the planning, organization, controls, integration, and evaluation of the work of the company’s engineering department; directs and manages the work of supporting staff, which includes development of engineered drawings, technical specifications, front end specifications, calculations, technical reports, cost estimates, and schedules; ensures work is performed and administered to meet the client’s needs.
• Directs, completes, or assists with the preparation of a variety of engineering deliverables for water projects.
• Directs, completes, or assists with project management activities for a variety of projects and studies including the preparation of scopes, plans, and schedules.
• Directs, completes, or assists with project accounting including billing, budget maintenance, and change order negotiation.
• Provides quality assurance /quality control (QA/QC) services of project deliverables.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s OR master’s degree in civil engineering or environmental engineering (or related field with relevant experience) with 15+ years of experience in the water industry. Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage tasks for technically complex projects utilizing local and remotely-located personnel with specialized skills. Experience with planning, hydraulic modelling, design, and/or technical analysis with water, wastewater, environmental, and/or water reuse projects – including but not limited to treatment works, pump stations, pipelines, and groundwater basins – is highly desired. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare project reports, and summarize engineering and model analyses in concise understandable language is desired. Knowledge and implementation of principles and practices of leadership, working with groups and fostering effective team interaction, negotiating and management, economics and financial analyses, are highly desired. Knowledge of federal, state and local laws, regulations, and court decisions applicable to assigned areas of responsibility is required. A California PE license is required.

Benefits

Basic full-time benefits include: 14 paid vacation days, 13 paid sick days, 12 paid holidays, paid parental, bereavement, jury duty, and giveback (volunteer) leave, health (medical, dental, and vision) insurance, a wellness stipend, retirement plan with up to 4% salary match, life, accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability insurance, employee assistance program, climate change mitigation incentives, cell phone, and profit sharing. Additional enhanced benefits and stock options are negotiable. 

Application Process

Even at an engineering firm, communication is critical to our job. As part of your application, we request that you provide a cover letter and specific writing samples that will help us better understand your abilities and interests. The cover letter should discuss your unique skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate for Hoch Consulting. Include any relevant projects or roles you've undertaken and explain your interest in working with our team and within our industry. Additionally, we are requesting two writing samples, preferably preexisting documents, such as e-mails, memos, reports, or any other forms of written communication. One sample should be from you to internal stakeholders (friends, family, co-workers, etc.) and one sample should be from you to external stakeholders (clients, community members, professors, etc.). Please ensure that any confidential information is redacted.

Interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and references to wbostwick@hochconsulting.com. No agencies or calls please. 

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